High Court dismisses Donald Trump claim over allegations of 'perverted' sex acts
The High Court has dismissed Donald Trump's data protection claim over allegations that he participated in "perverted" sex acts and bribes made to Russian officials.
Mrs Justice Steyn issued a ruling this morning that threw out the former president's desire to continue his data protection claim against Orbis Business Intelligence, a consultancy set up by former MI6 officer Christopher Steele, over claims he took part in "perverted" sex acts.
The 77-year-old, who has denied the claims, was seeking compensation for distress after Mr Steele, who previously ran the Secret Intelligence Service's Russia desk, was the author of the so-called "golden shower" dossier. It also included allegations Trump had been "compromised" by the Russian security service, the FSB.
In a judgment on Thursday, Mrs Justice Steyn said: "In my view, there are no compelling reasons to allow the claim to proceed to trial in circumstances where, whatever the merits of the allegation that the personal data are inaccurate may be, the claim for compensation and/or damages... is bound to fail."
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Christopher Steele is a former MI6 agent who set-up Orbis Business Intelligence and compiled a dossier (PA)She added: "In reality, the claimant is seeking court findings to vindicate his reputation in circumstances where has not been able to formulate any viable remedy which he would have a real prospect of obtaining, or which would itself be of any utility; and having chosen to allow many years to elapse - without any attempt to vindicate his reputation in this jurisdiction - since he was first made aware of the dossier, including the memoranda, on 6 January 2017."
During a court hearing in October, the court was told Trump was bringing a case over two momes in the dossier which accuses him of taking part in "sex parties" while in St Petersburg and "golden showers" with prostitutes in Moscow.
Hugh Tomlinson KC, for Trump, described the allegations as "egregiously inaccurate" and said the property tycoon wants to give evidence in the London court to prove they are false.
The barrister said the "now notorious Steele dossier... contained shocking and scandalous claims about the personal conduct of President Trump" and included allegations he paid bribes to Russian officials to further his business interests.
In written submissions, Tomlinson said Orbis is accused of unlawfully processing Trump's personal data, causing him "serious distress and reputational damage." He told the court: "President Trump begins this case because he seeks a vindication of his legal rights... that the statements in these memoranda are false."
Trump is seeking compensation for the distress (AFP via Getty Images)However, lawyers for Orbis asked for Trump's case to be thrown out admitting it was brought for the purpose of harassing Orbis and Mr Steele and pursuing longstanding grievances”.
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The barrister said the "now notorious Steele dossier... contained shocking and scandalous claims about the personal conduct of President Trump" and included allegations he paid bribes to Russian officials to further his business interests.
In written submissions, Tomlinson said Orbis is accused of unlawfully processing Trump's personal data, causing him "serious distress and reputational damage." He told the court: "President Trump begins this case because he seeks a vindication of his legal rights... that the statements in these memoranda are false."
The court heard Trump accepts Orbis is not responsible for the publication of the dossier - as it was leaked to and published by BuzzFeed - but claims his data was processed by the consultancy.
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Mr Tomlinson later described Trump as a "controversial figure", adding: "He often expresses himself in very strong language... his interactions with the US legal system have been many and varies. "None of this is relevant to the question of whether the personal data in question is accurate."
But lawyers for Orbis asked for Trump's claim to be thrown out, telling the court it was "brought for the purpose of harassing Orbis and Mr Steele and pursuing longstanding grievances." Antony White KC, for the consultancy, said in written submissions the case "has no realistic prospect of success" and has been brought too late.
He said: "The claim for compensation is principally based on reputational damage allegedly suffered by the claimant. This claim is bound to fail on limitation grounds and because any reputational damage, and any resulting distress, allegedly suffered will have been caused by the BuzzFeed publication, for which the claimant accepts Orbis is not liable."
Mr White said the dossier was never intended to be made public, and all copies of the memos held by Orbis were destroyed in 2017. The barrister later said Trump's case had been brought to pursue a "vendetta" against Orbis and Mr Steel.
He continued: "The claimant has a deep and intense animus against Mr Steele and Orbis, which is reflected in numerous vituperative public statements which he has made since the dossier was made public by BuzzFeed in 2017."
Mr White said Trump "has a long history of repeatedly bringing frivolous, meritless and vexatious claims for the purpose of vexing and harassing perceived enemies and others against whom he bears a grudge."
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